More Land Information
How did you choose the location?
We traveled in Mexico and Central America for several years. While we have found other spots that are more beautiful, cheaper, have more perfect weather, and other
superlatives, we haven't found one that has as many of the positives that this has to offer. It is quite beautiful, the weather is terrific for more than half the year and
the rest is doable, the cost of living is reasonable, access to the States and Canada is easy, and there are lots of things to do in the area.
The property in question is rural, waterfront, has a small town nearby (2500 pop) that buffers the property from a larger town (150K pop), the larger town has good
shopping, there are not many US or Canadian expatriates living here, it is easy to get to Belize, there is protection from hurricanes, there are two hospitals and several
clinics, the University of Quintana Roo is just four miles away, and the list goes on.
Why didn't we choose Belize? Though retiring in an English speaking country does make it easier for non-Spanish speakers, there are lots of other considerations. Belize's
economy is really struggling right now. They are almost totally dependent on sugarcane as an export crop and tourism for other income. Sugarcane as a crop takes lots of
land to produce money and provides a really depressed living for its workers. Additionally, each year the land must be burned over to ready it for the next year's crop and
the air pollution is terrible...at Maricasa there is some spillover of the smoke in the air for a time in May prior to the arrival of the rainy season.
Mexico on the other hand, is a really large country that is on the economic upswing, has many forms of economic support and a large and growing middle class....we felt that
it was the right choice for our first venture.
We traveled in Mexico and Central America for several years. While we have found other spots that are more beautiful, cheaper, have more perfect weather, and other
superlatives, we haven't found one that has as many of the positives that this has to offer. It is quite beautiful, the weather is terrific for more than half the year and
the rest is doable, the cost of living is reasonable, access to the States and Canada is easy, and there are lots of things to do in the area.
The property in question is rural, waterfront, has a small town nearby (2500 pop) that buffers the property from a larger town (150K pop), the larger town has good
shopping, there are not many US or Canadian expatriates living here, it is easy to get to Belize, there is protection from hurricanes, there are two hospitals and several
clinics, the University of Quintana Roo is just four miles away, and the list goes on.
Why didn't we choose Belize? Though retiring in an English speaking country does make it easier for non-Spanish speakers, there are lots of other considerations. Belize's
economy is really struggling right now. They are almost totally dependent on sugarcane as an export crop and tourism for other income. Sugarcane as a crop takes lots of
land to produce money and provides a really depressed living for its workers. Additionally, each year the land must be burned over to ready it for the next year's crop and
the air pollution is terrible...at Maricasa there is some spillover of the smoke in the air for a time in May prior to the arrival of the rainy season.
Mexico on the other hand, is a really large country that is on the economic upswing, has many forms of economic support and a large and growing middle class....we felt that
it was the right choice for our first venture.
What is the project structure?
As initial investors, we will begin the development of the infrastructure in preparation for building and selling condo-cabanas. When substantially all of the development is
done and almost all of the units have been sold, the corporation will cease to be a development company and a homeowners' association will take over the management.
As initial investors, we will begin the development of the infrastructure in preparation for building and selling condo-cabanas. When substantially all of the development is
done and almost all of the units have been sold, the corporation will cease to be a development company and a homeowners' association will take over the management.
How do you envision the community design?
We have hired an architect and planner to assist us with the design of the community, but in general we envision colorful clusters of small cabanas integrated into the
landscape. We also anticipate some shared resources like swimming pool, jacuzzi, kitchen/dining palapa, gardens, roads and paths, employees and beach/waterfront area. We
would like to hire a cook for the kitchen that will provide meals at cost to residents and with a small profit for non-residents. The meals would not be required but provide
a low-cost option for those who prefer to spend their days fishing, visiting Mayan ruins, snorkeling, gardening or swinging in a hammock rather than cooking meals.
We have hired an architect and planner to assist us with the design of the community, but in general we envision colorful clusters of small cabanas integrated into the
landscape. We also anticipate some shared resources like swimming pool, jacuzzi, kitchen/dining palapa, gardens, roads and paths, employees and beach/waterfront area. We
would like to hire a cook for the kitchen that will provide meals at cost to residents and with a small profit for non-residents. The meals would not be required but provide
a low-cost option for those who prefer to spend their days fishing, visiting Mayan ruins, snorkeling, gardening or swinging in a hammock rather than cooking meals.
How will the common buildings and amenities be supported financially?
There will be monthly maintenance fees to support the shared resources. The amount of those fees has not been set as we have not designed the community yet and don't
know what the costs will be.
We also like the idea of owners making their cabanas available for rent at any time they are not occupied by the owner. They would be rented to women's groups wanting to
hold conferences, retreats, language courses, Chinese Medicine seminars or to individuals who want to spend time in the Yucatan. This idea is only limited by your
imagination!!!! A portion of the income derived from the rentals would accrue to the community and the rest would accrue to the owner thus defraying some or all of the
maintenance fees.
If women want to use any of the common facilities for guests for a retreat or cooking course, then there would be a fee that the community would charge for the use of the
communal resources that would be used to defray some of the maintenance costs. All use of community resources would be reviewed by a committee prior to accepting any
bookings for the facilities.
Another part of the plan is to integrate an RV parking facility for women traveling to the Yucatan. The fees for use of the RV park will accrue to the community.
There will be monthly maintenance fees to support the shared resources. The amount of those fees has not been set as we have not designed the community yet and don't
know what the costs will be.
We also like the idea of owners making their cabanas available for rent at any time they are not occupied by the owner. They would be rented to women's groups wanting to
hold conferences, retreats, language courses, Chinese Medicine seminars or to individuals who want to spend time in the Yucatan. This idea is only limited by your
imagination!!!! A portion of the income derived from the rentals would accrue to the community and the rest would accrue to the owner thus defraying some or all of the
maintenance fees.
If women want to use any of the common facilities for guests for a retreat or cooking course, then there would be a fee that the community would charge for the use of the
communal resources that would be used to defray some of the maintenance costs. All use of community resources would be reviewed by a committee prior to accepting any
bookings for the facilities.
Another part of the plan is to integrate an RV parking facility for women traveling to the Yucatan. The fees for use of the RV park will accrue to the community.
How much does it cost to build a house in Chetumal?
The rates that we have found for building (not including the cost of the land) here are approximately $50 - $60 US/sq ft for a US/Canada style house with tile floors and
probably made at least partially of block construction. The prices in the US, depending on the area, are in the range of $125 - $250/ sq ft excluding the land. We are
proposing that the cabanas be in the range of 600-1000 sq ft. We will hire an architect to assist with the design of the buildings and then enforce the use of styles
through covenants. Women can build a custom cabana as long as it fits within the style criteria of the covenants. So, for an 800 sq ft condo-cabana we are looking at under
$50,000US for the cabana. Do we have any pricing for the lots? Not yet. Stay tuned.
The rates that we have found for building (not including the cost of the land) here are approximately $50 - $60 US/sq ft for a US/Canada style house with tile floors and
probably made at least partially of block construction. The prices in the US, depending on the area, are in the range of $125 - $250/ sq ft excluding the land. We are
proposing that the cabanas be in the range of 600-1000 sq ft. We will hire an architect to assist with the design of the buildings and then enforce the use of styles
through covenants. Women can build a custom cabana as long as it fits within the style criteria of the covenants. So, for an 800 sq ft condo-cabana we are looking at under
$50,000US for the cabana. Do we have any pricing for the lots? Not yet. Stay tuned.
How will the community be managed?
In the beginning, during the development phase, the investors will be responsible for the management of the entire project. The project will be a condominium project with
common land and privately held condo-cabanas. Once a sufficient number of condo-cabanas are purchased, the investors/developers will hand off management to a
homeowners' association with officers elected to take care of budget and management of the community. There will be employees to take care of the day to day maintenance
and gardening chores and various committees to participate in the management of the community.
In the beginning, during the development phase, the investors will be responsible for the management of the entire project. The project will be a condominium project with
common land and privately held condo-cabanas. Once a sufficient number of condo-cabanas are purchased, the investors/developers will hand off management to a
homeowners' association with officers elected to take care of budget and management of the community. There will be employees to take care of the day to day maintenance
and gardening chores and various committees to participate in the management of the community.
We have gotten so many great questions that the FAQ section is constantly being updated. Keep the questions coming.
